Switching arrangement for electrical apparatus



L. C. WIMMER Jul 22, 1947.

SWITCHING ARRANGEMENT FOR ELECTRICAL APPARATUS Filed Jan. 25, 1945 LLO YD C. W/MMER Patented July 22, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE swrronmo ARRANGEMENT-FOR ELECTRICAL APPARATUS more C. wiinmr, wannabe, Me. n Application January 23, 1945 Serial No. 574,114 a est-n5. (01'. 2014s) This invention. relates to switching: arrangements for the current supplyof eleotriealapparatus and it has for its principal object. to :provide switching means which, when operated,

permit to include temporarily a fiashing arrangement a circuit breaker producing intermittent impulses or an arrangement producing an artificial reduction or fading of the current supply flowing to said electrical apparatuaand when returned to their. position of rest will restore the normal current supply.

I A .further object of the invention consistsin a switching arrangement of the type indicated which may be operated temporarily by applying pressure either by the foot or the hand ofan operator and whichwill return to its position of rest when the pressure relates or ceases.

A still further object of the inventionconsists inenclosing the switching arrangement in ..a completely closedbox, provided, with a spring pressed lid and in soarrangin v the operating parts of the switching arrangement thatpressure exercised on the, spring pressed lid will uperate the switch while relaxation of pressure restores the normal fiow of current.

A switching arrangement of this type may be used in many different ways. For instance, it may be used to substitute temporarily flashing signals for a steady signal on a' motor car or in connection with other conveyances or with fixed installations in order to attract attention or in order to convert an electric light used tor, illuminating purposes temporarily into a signalling device. It may moreoyerbe used in connection with a radio receiver, to make a reception temporaril inaudible while leaving, sufficient volume to discern the. general character of the reception, Such ,an arrangement ,will be most useful in helpin to cut out undesirable parts of a program without losing contact with the performance so completely that it becomes difficult or impossible to restore full reception at the right moment when the desired parts of the radio performance are received.

The following specification describes and illustrates one modification of the invention only; it is, however, to be understood that this modification is intended to illustrate one embodiment of the invention by way of example supplying to the expert skilled in the art suflicient information as regards the general principles to be followed to construct or design other em,- bodiments, and further modifications. Such changes and modifications as far as foreshadowed in the following specification do not constitute a departure fromv the essence or spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is an elevational view of the box or container housing the switching arrangement and serving to operate it.

, Figure 2 is an elevational sectional view of the switching apparatus, and.

.FigureB is a diagram illustrating the connection. of the parts.

.The switching arrangement according to the inventionconsists of a base I provided with a lug orprojection 2 to which a cover or lid 3 having the shape of an inverted tray is hinged (at 4) which preferably covers the entire arrangement and encloses it between its downwardly projecting side walls 6. This cover 3 is provided with a push block 24 against which a spring 5 is applied. This spring rests .on a support 23 which liked and one movable contact.

is mounted on the base I and is so adjusted that it keeps the cover or lid in its raised position and that it opposes a downward movement of the lid or cover 3.

Preferably the cover or lid has an inclined upper surface 1 slopin downwardly towards the hinged portion to which the foot may be applied, if the device is to be used as a foot switch. When the foot or hand presses the lid downwardly, the spring 5 is compressed and the lid may be moved down until the lower edges of the side. walls 6 reach the protruding ledges 8 provided on the switch base. Y t V The switch covered by the lid comprises two The movable contact 9 is attached to the lid 3 and moves with it. It cooperates with the two fixed contacts l0 and II, which may be so-calle'd blade or spring contacts provided with two leaf springs between which the blade of the movable contact 9 which is a knife contact may enter. Each contact 9, l0, H is provided with a binding post [4, l3, l2, respectively. The movable contact 9 is connected with the conductor [5 leading to the source of power while the upper contact II is connected with the. apparatus to be supplied with current. Thus, in the normal or uncompressed state of the switch, the apparatus (signal, radio) is simply connected with the source of power supply.

The lower contact 10 is connected with a circuit breaker, flash button or high ohmic resistance it, which is either carried by the base I, or may be located elsewhere outside of the hand or foot operated switch, if necessary. The circuit breaker or flash button may be of any conventional design, either the usual automatic breaker or the flash button or flash mechanism used on motor cars to produce pulsating or flashing signals being used.

In connection with the reception of radio signals either the flashing means or a high ohmic resistance or both may be used, the two abovenamed means producing a decrease of the electric energy supply which will result in a fading out of the radio signal. The application of these means, therefore, permits the listener to keep in touch with the progress of the performance to such an extent as to identify its character.

As seen, the manipulation of the switching arrangement is very simple and entails merely a small singular movement of the foot or hand for applying a temporary pressure on the lid. This movement shifts the connection of the conductor F5 from contact H to contact [0 whereby the auxiliary device cutting the supply of power is temporarily or intermittently switched in.

As soon as the pressure of the foot or hand relaxes, the spring lifts the lid and the normal power supply is restored.

When applied to a radio set the switching arrangement may be used near or in connection with a telephone to cut out or cut down the output of the radio set during a telephone conversation. It may similarly be used in other cases for a temporary cutting down or interruption of the volume or output of the radio set, which leaves the radio tubes in an operative position and moreover either keeps the user himself in sufficient contact with the performance to be able to switch in at the right moment or which allows others to listen in on a reduced volume, which does not interfere with certain other activities.

A push button [8 on the lid cooperating with recess l9 on the base may be used to fix the lid in its downward position, if desired, without pressure from without.

I claim:

1. A switching arrangement for controlling the current supply of an electrical apparatus consisting of two fixed contacts, acting as stops and arranged one above the other in vertically superposed relationship, a fixed base carrying the said contacts, a movable box-like pedal member enclosing the switch structure and hinged to the base member, a spring acting on said movable member and imparting to it a tendency to move away from the base, a movable contact cooperating with the aforementioned fixed contacts, mounted on said movable member and acting as a counter stop projecting into the interior of the box-like pedal member to the vertical line joining the fixed contacts, a supply lead for the aforementioned apparatus connected with the contact towards which the movable contact is urged by the spring, a device for interrupting the current intermittently, connected with the conductor leading from the other fixed contact and a current supply conductor connected with the movable contact.

2. A current reducing unit for the power supply line of a radio receiver, comprising a base plate, a current reducing means mounted on the same, fixed contacts, connected with said current reducing means, disposed in a vertical line "one above the other, and mounted on said base plate, a movable pedal forming substantially a closed box with one open side, hinged to and encircling said base plate and covering the elements mounted on the same, a spring inserted between said pedal and said base plate and a movable switch contact, vertically disposed within the vertical line joining the fixed contacts, insulated from and attached to a vertically disposed portion of the pedal for vertical movement, said contact being connected with the aforesaid power supply line.

3. A current reducing unit for the power supply line of a radio receiver comprising a base plate, a current reducing means mounted on the same, fixed contacts, connected with said current reducing means disposed in a vertical line one above the other, and mounted on said base plate, a movable pedal forming substantially a closed box with one open side, hinged to and encircling said base plate and covering the elements mounted on the same having an upper outwardly turned face inclined towards the base plate and sloping downwardly towards the hinged portion, a spring inserted between said pedal and said base plate and a movable switch contact, vertically disposed within the vertical line joining the fixed contacts, insulated from and attached to a vertically disposed portion of the pedal for vertical movement, said contact being connected with the aforesaid power supply line.

LLOYD C. WIMMER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,618,355 Rogers Feb. 22, 1927 1,728,004 Norris Sept. 10, 1929 1,868,689 Brander July 26, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Countr Date 188,998 Great Britain Nov. 23, 1922 212,000 Great Britain Mar. 6, 1924 

